Royals Historic Run to the World Series

Last night the Kansas City Royals did it again. Behind defiant pitching and an opportunistic offense, the Royals defeated the Baltimore Orioles, sweeping their way into the World Series. Let me say that again, the Kansas City Royals are going to the World Series. Only a few months ago that statement seemed just north of the Cubs winning the World Series on baseball’s improbable scale. But what made Kansas City’s run to the Fall Classic seem so unlikely, is what also makes it the best story baseball has had in some time.

Here are the reasons why:

Time

That was the date of game 7 of the 1985 World Series. Down 3 games to 1 to the St. Louis Cardinals, the Royals stormed back, winning 3 games in a row and clinched their first ever World Series title. Then this happened.

The Kansas City Royals would not make another trip to the MLB Postseason for 28 years, 11 months, and 4 days (not including the end date). To put that into perspective, before 2014, the last time the Kansas City Royals played a baseball game in October was a month before Microsoft released Windows 1.0.

Records

Since professional baseball started keeping track of stats over 100 years ago, only two teams have ever won more post season games in a row than the Kansas City Royals. It may have taken almost 30 years between win number 1 and win number 11, but the Royals sit 1 win away from tying the all time MLB consecutive postseason wins record.

The Kansas City Royals are also the first team to ever win 8 straight postseason games in the same season, and the first to ever sweep 3 series in the same postseason. This 2014 Kansas City Royals team has done nothing but make streaks, end droughts, and oh yeah… Win.

Fashion

The other extraordinary thing about this Kansas City Royals playoff run, is the fashion in which they have won games. The Royals last lost a baseball game on September 27th. But that is not to say that they have cruised through the last month. The Royals have already played 4 overtime games in the 2014 MLB playoffs, and have won 6 of their 8 postseason games by 2 runs or less. Every time the Royals step onto the diamond it is exciting, it is close, but Kansas City just finds a way to win.

Tickets

The culmination of 29 years of waiting, 4 overtime games, records broken, and records on the horizon, has created unbelievable demand for Kansas City Royals tickets. The median ticket price for the World Series games in Kansas City is already over $850 for all four games, and that is even before we know who they are going to be matched up against. Whether it is the St. Louis Cardinals, or the San Fransicio Giants who will step into Kauffman Stadium next week, 1 thing is clear, this is October baseball at its very best.

Kansas City home World Series games with median ticket price (as of 10/16/14):